Fargo City Commission Expedites Hiring of New Police Chief

Commissioners vote to post position and conduct interviews in May for new chief to start as soon as mid-May.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:27am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a lone police car parked on a shadowy city street, with warm sunlight casting dramatic diagonal shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the city's search for new police leadership.The Fargo City Commission's decision to expedite the hiring of a new police chief reflects the importance of stable leadership in the department.Fargo Today

The Fargo City Commission voted 4-1 to expedite the hiring process for a new police chief, opting to post the position on Tuesday and conduct final interviews on May 5-6. The new chief could start as soon as May 11 if an internal candidate is selected, or by July 6 if an external candidate is chosen.

Why it matters

The Fargo Police Department has been led by an interim chief since the previous chief's departure, and the city commission is moving quickly to fill the permanent role. The decision to accelerate the hiring process reflects the importance the city places on having stable leadership in the police department.

The details

After hearing from several members of the Fargo Police Department and others in support of making interim chief Travis Stefonowicz the permanent chief, the city commission considered three options to begin the hiring process. They ultimately voted 4-1 to post the position on Tuesday, with final interviews scheduled for May 5-6. The new chief could start as soon as May 11 if an internal candidate is selected, or by July 6 if an external candidate is chosen.

  • The position will be posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • Final interviews will be conducted on May 5-6, 2026.
  • If an internal candidate is selected, the new chief could start on May 11, 2026.
  • If an external candidate is selected, the new chief could start on July 6, 2026.

The players

Travis Stefonowicz

The interim police chief of the Fargo Police Department.

Michelle Turnberg

A Fargo City Commissioner who proposed a three-day posting for the police chief position, but her motion did not receive a second.

Jill Minette

The Fargo Human Resources Director, who stated that openings for department heads typically run anywhere from three to six weeks.

Michael Redlinger

The Fargo City Administrator, who laid out three possible options to begin the hiring process for the new police chief.

Denise Kolpack

A Fargo City Commissioner who made the motion to move forward with Option 2, which was seconded by the mayor.

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What they’re saying

“The position and process is important and shouldn't be rushed.”

— Dave Piepkorn, Fargo City Commissioner

What’s next

The new police chief is expected to start either on May 11 if an internal candidate is selected, or on July 6 if an external candidate is chosen.

The takeaway

The Fargo City Commission's decision to expedite the hiring process for a new police chief reflects the importance of stable leadership in the department. While one commissioner expressed concerns about rushing the process, the majority voted to move forward quickly, indicating the city's priority of filling the role as soon as possible.